The sophomore small forward was back in action yesterday shaking off a strained Achilles that kept him out the day before and giving Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell enough healthy bodies to run some 5-on-5 drills for a change.

At least Mitchell was able to until late in the practice when Jason Kapono was involved in a collision and left to receive some treatment.

"I used to tell him all the time: The difference between Kevin Garnett and 98% of the rest of the league is that Kevin plays like he practises," Mitchell said. "Chris is getting that. I think that light came on. If you want to be better than just an all-star and take this team to another level, you have to be more like that and he has done that."

In Mitchell's book, Bosh has entered the NBA elite with his new practice habits.

"I've grown mentally as a player over this past summer and everything. Just being in that environment broadened my perspective a little bit, and I just started thinking more," he said. "That's what we've been talking about a lot in the past, he (Mitchell) is always telling me how I need to be a better practice player, make sure I push the guys and push myself to get better in practice. I really took that to heart and I'm really taking advantage of being healthy right now."

"Chris is, I think now, trying to elevate himself to be one of the top players in the NBA," said Mitchell, Bosh's coach for the past four seasons. "To where people start talking about first, second-team all-NBA, I think he's trying to elevate himself to that point."

"I just wanted to think just about basketball and address my personal and physical issues and just get better," O'Neal said. "I got an opportunity to go to a team that I actually wrote down on my [wish] list. I got the opportunity to go a classy organization. Great people. Great fan support.

"[The Raptors] have a president in Brian Colangelo I've talked to more than I talked to [the Pacers' Larry] Bird in five years. You feel wanted."